Death toll rises to 23 in Quetta mine incidents

Marghat village is located near Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, where such incidents are common mainly because of poor safety measures.

Sources said that after the gas explosion, a huge fire broke out in the Marwar mine causing it to collapse. The explosions were not linked. Their bodies were later recovered after hours-long rescue operation.

In the other incident, at least nine miners were trapped in a coal minePakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) in the Sur-range field near Quetta, an official said.

Now rescue is trying to find other people who could be under the rubble. "The mines collapsed followed by a gas explosion and the exit points were dumped", the spokesperson said.

RISING number of deaths in mining accidents in Balochistan highlights the low level of safety in coal mines, many of which are unregistered and out of bound to officials of the Inspectorate of Mines.